While there may still be a bit of shouting left to do, the Legislature appears to have settled on the basics of budget for the next two years, giving some direction to Shoreline Community College officials.

State budget comparison linkComparisons of budgets by Gov. Gregoire, the House, Senate and the final are available at:

“It looks like the reductions are in the range we’ve been planning for,” Vice President for Administrative Services Daryl Campbell said Monday, April 27, 2009, just hours after lawmakers gaveled the regular legislative session to a close. “We’ll need to have some time to look at the specifics of the budget to better understand how the college should proceed.”

Although Gov. Chris Gregoire is contemplating calling a special legislative session to pass bills she says are necessary to implement the budget, a report from the State Board of Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) says the budget includes:

- A $164 million biennial cut - or 10.7 percent - which includes reductions the system already took this year, with additional cuts spread evenly over two years.

- Tuition increases limited to 7 percent in the first year and another 7 percent in the second year for resident undergraduates (14 percent per year for applied baccalaureate program upper division courses).

- With tuition yields added back, the net biennial cut for the system is calculated at 7.6 percent.

- $3.5 million for the Student Achievement Initiative.

- $2.25 million for on-line distance learning and open courseware technology.

- Up to $4 million in federal stimulus funds to provide workforce training related to weatherization and energy.

- State Need Grant funding increased commensurate with tuition increases with the 70 percent of median family income threshold for eligibility remaining.

Both Campbell and SBCTC deputy executive director Chris Reykdal have noted that there are still variables that must be analyzed before all impacts of the budget are fully understood.

“We’re going to have transitional costs, as we implement changes required by the budget cuts we made this year,” Campbell said. “We also need to better understand where the Legislature used federal stimulus money.” Money in the federal economic stimulus package is generally targeted to be spent within two years. Campbell cautioned that the college should consider planning now for the time when those monies go away.

Reykdal has told all college officials that final budget numbers for individual colleges will likely fluctuate somewhat as employee benefit calculations are done and applied.

Another key variable is enrollment. The 7 percent tuition increase for each year is intended to offset some of the budget cuts, but Campbell and others worry that higher costs will filter out some students, despite increases to state and federal aid programs. Higher percentage increases – 14 percent for each year - for the four-year schools, however, could push some of those students to community and technical colleges. And, while Shoreline has seen increased enrollment this school year - an expected trend as the economy soured - should the economic climate warm, that upward trend-line could flatten.

“Our current thinking is to budget flat enrollment,” Campbell said. “It’s conservative and if things are better, we’ll be in a good position.”

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Monday, April 27, 2009

* SCC Informs About Swine Flu

With concerns rising over reports of swine flu, ShorelineCommunity College is choosing to do what it does best: educate.

“This appears to be a rapidly changing situation without a clear path,” Shoreline Community College President Lee Lambert said Monday, April 27, 2009. “What we can do at this point is keep our students and employees informed and updated as this situation unfolds.”

Lambert noted that as of Monday, there were no reported cases of swine flu in the state, according to the Washington state Department of Health Director Mary Selecky. As a precaution and result of the U.S. state-of-emergency declaration, Washington will receive 200,000 doses of medication from the national stockpile, Selecky told media outlets this past weekend.

“If the situation changes and requires further action by the college, we’ll do that as quickly and appropriately as possible,” Lambert said.

Lambert asked that an information sheet on swine flu prepared by the state Department of Health be distributed to students and employees via e-mail and Web.

Here is that information:

April, 2009

The Washington state Department of Health is in close contact with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding swine influenza in parts of the United States, Canada and Mexico. The department is working closely with local health agencies around the state to monitor cases of pneumonia and influenza to see if they’re due to this new infection. Health care providers and laboratories in Washington have been asked to watch for influenza, especially in people who traveled to Mexico or other affected areas.

What is swine flu?

·Influenza A viruses causes illness in humans and many animals.

·Some influenza A viruses are adapted to pigs and cause respiratory illness in them, and so have been called “swine flu.”

·Viruses that cause swine flu do not normally infect humans, although rare human infections with swine flu have occurred.

·The swine influenza virus that is being investigated now is different than the virus that causes illness in pigs and is not being transmitted from pigs to humans. This new swine flu influenza virus appears to be more able to be transmitted person-to-person.

·Human symptoms for this new type of swine flu are similar to the symptoms of regular human influenza that happens every year. Those include fever, cough and sore throat. In addition, fatigue, lack of appetite, runny nose, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea have been reported.

·The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has determined that the swine flu virus causing mild illness in some states is the same strain as the virus causing an outbreak of respiratory illness among humans in some areas of Mexico.

Are there cases of this new swine influenza in Washington state?

·There are no known cases of swine influenza in people in Washington so far.

·Local health departments, health care providers and labs have been asked to be on the look out for influenza A cases, especially in people who recently traveled to Mexico or states with cases of human swine flu.

·The Department of Health has not seen an increase in the number of flu cases in Washington.

Can people catch this new swine flu from eating pork?

·No. This new swine influenza virus is not transmitted by food. It is transmitted from person-to-person like human influenza viruses.

·You can not get swine influenza from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork and a pork product is safe.

Current status of outbreak

·As of April 26, 2009, swine flu infections have been confirmed in people living in five states: California; Texas; Kansas; New York City and Ohio. No deaths due to this virus have been found in the United States. (See CDC website for current information - http://www.cdc.gov/flu/swine/investigation.htm.) Cases have also been confirmed in Canada.

·Swine flu infections have been documented in Mexico, but it is not yet known if all of the fatal or hospitalized respiratory illness cases are actually due to this swine flu. This is being investigated.

What can people do to avoid getting sick?

·There are no known cases in Washington state but precautions to avoid transmitting respiratory illnesses should be taken.

·This new swine flu virus is spread person-to-person. Infection occurs when the virus gets into the airways and lungs. However, it isn’t known how easily the virus spreads. As with any infectious disease that is spread through the human respiratory system, health officials recommended the following precautions:

oCover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it;

oWash your hands often with soap and water frequently, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective;

oTry to avoid close contact with sick people;

oIf you get sick, stay home and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them;

oAvoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.

·These are the same precautions that should be taken to stop transmitting all influenza viruses and other viruses that are transmitted from the respiratory tract.

How do people get it?

·Although this new virus has been called “swine flu virus,” it is not transmitted from pigs to humans. It is transmitted person-to-person.

·Flu and other respiratory infections are transmitted when people cough and sneeze, spreading germs through the air, or on to surfaces that others can come in contact with.

Will government be issuing a travel advisory?

·The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a travelers’ health notice for Mexico and states where there have been swine influenza cases. This is to inform travelers that an outbreak of respiratory illness is occurring and that precautions should be taken. Health officials are not recommending people avoid travel at this time.

·Travelers should follow the same precautionary measures that are recommended to protect against seasonal influenza – frequent hand washing, covering coughs and sneezes, and staying home when ill. For more information about the CDC health notice and travel precautions go to http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/investigation.htm#travel

What do I do if I’ve been to Mexico or the U.S. and I have symptoms of a respiratory illness?

·If you have recently been to Mexico or affected areas in the U.S. and have symptoms of influenza such as fever, cough, and sore throat, you should contact your health care provider to discuss your symptoms. Make sure to tell your health care professional about your travel history.

Are there medicines to treat swine flu?

·Yes, there are effective medicines to treat all human influenza viruses and this new swine influenza virus.

·Whether a person with influenza needs to take one of these medicines is a decision that must be made by the patient and their health care provider.

·These medicines are generally used to prevent serious flu complications such as pneumonia and work best if started soon after getting sick (within 2 days of symptoms).

·In addition, in special situations, these medicines may be used to prevent a person from getting ill or infected from this new swine flu.

·A vaccine to prevent people from getting this new type of flu has not yet been developed.

Where I can find more information?

·People can call the Centers for Disease Control hotline at 1-800-CDC-INFO (232-4636).

One of the longtime, ongoing conversations at ShorelineCommunity College is what the college smoking policy should look like.Now, under the direction of VP Daryl Campbell, the policy, untouched since the ‘70s, is about to be revamped.Administration has listened to the concerns and suggestions by students, faculty and staff, and is on a serious track to propose new policy reflective of current practice.

As reported at College Council, Wednesday, April 22, a small task force with representatives from all constituencies will be formed.They will consult with the college community to ensure that nothing is overlooked, and develop proposed policy/procedure.Enforcement guidelines and shelter locations, including the final location for the shelter currently placed temporarily near the 1800 Building, will be considered and written into the new policy.

The placement of smoking shelters on campus is not something Vice President Daryl Campbell and the college administration take lightly.

"We recognize the importance of meeting the needs of both non-smokers and smokers and continue to look for a solution that will work for everybody," he said in an article in the February 20 edition of DAAG.

Administration expects the timeline for this process to begin April 26, with completion planned for mid-June.College Council will review the draft policy and submit it to PSET and the Board of Trustees for approval.Implementation of the new smoking policy and final location of shelters is planned for sometime Summer Quarter, with full implementation for Fall Quarter 2009.

Donna Myers/SCC

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Wednesday, April 22, 2009

* Foreign Policy Discussion Series Delayed by One Week

The GlobalAffairsCenter has announced that the series of discussions on global issues scheduled for six consecutive Thursday evenings has been delayed one week.The series will begin on April 30, instead of on April 23 as previously announced.

The discussions will begin at 6:30 p.m. and run until 8 p.m. in the StudentUnionBuilding, the PUB, Room 9201. The cost is $25, and includes briefing material, entrance to all sessions, and coffee/tea.

Topics and new dates are:

April 30Rising Global Powers

May 7Energy and Global Economy

May 14Afghanistan and Pakistan

May 21 Cuba

May 28Global Food Supply

June 4Universal Human Rights

Enrollment is limited to 25 participants.

* * * * * * * * * *

Registration - $25

(Includes all briefing material, entrance to six sessions and coffee/tea.*)

Register at the SCC Bookstore on the main campus (PUB, lower level), where you can pay by cash, check or credit card, or

Call or send an email with your contact information to Larry Fuell at (206) 533-6750 or lfuell@shoreline.edu.

*Participants are free to bring own beverage in a closed container.Sorry, no food allowed in the conference room.

Would you like to have a better sense of what the majority of the world’s population experiences daily? What it would be like to be hungry everyday?

The Center for Service Learning and the Global Development Project Club at Shoreline Community College invite the public to join students, faculty and staff at the Oxfam America Global Hunger Banquet, a unique dinner experience that highlights the issues surrounding global hunger and its connections to our lives. (Oxfam America is an international relief and development organization that creates lasting solutions to poverty, hunger, and injustice. Together with individuals and local groups in more than 100 countries, Oxfam saves lives, helps people overcome poverty, and fights for social justice. We are an affiliate of Oxfam International.)

The Hunger Banquet will present the extreme inequities and disparities of people around the world with their relation to food. Participants will be randomly selected at the door to experience one of three scenarios — the smallest group will represent the 15 percent of the world’s wealthiest. They will sit at tables with white linen tablecloths and be served their meals. Another group will represent the middle income world population (35 percent) and will serve themselves at a buffet of rice and beans and sit on chairs. The third group will represent the low-income population, 50 percent of the world population. They will eat only rice, with no utensils and standing or sitting on the floor.

Thuch Mulual-Deng of Sudan, one of the Lost Boys of Sudan, will give the keynote address. At a very young age, Mulual-Deng, a member of the Dinka Tribe of Southern Sudan, escaped a civil war and fled on foot to a refugee camp in Ethiopia 1,000 miles away from his home. He will provide participants with a unique perspective of the daily struggle of the people in his country.

Carol Schillios, owner of The Fabric of Life Foundation Boutique, will talk about her foundation which supports cooperative development projects that directly impact the quality of life for families living in developing countries, with emphasis on micro-credit programs for micro-entrepreneurs, increasing access to education and increasing access to affordable health care. The philosophy of the foundation is to support partnerships that focus on the cooperative principles of self help, building financial stability, education, non-discrimination, social responsibility and cooperation among cooperatives.

At the end of the meal, guests are invited to share their experiences. Few participants leave with full stomachs, but all possess a greater understanding of the problems of hunger and poverty and will hopefully be motivated to do something about them.Shoreline Community College International Business Law and International Political Economy Professor Stephen McCloskey will emcee the evening. McCloskey has extensive experience working abroad with individuals in developing countries.

“I give credit to the students,” said Prof. Stephen McCloskey, who co-advises the Global Development Project Club at the college. “These students were the force behind the club and this important outreach event – they really care about global tragedy. When you have students who are activists in their own rights and they come to you with an idea, you have to support them. It’s impressive – their compassion.”

The event takes place at 6 p.m., Tuesday, April 28 in the PUB Quiet Dining Room, 9208 on the main campus at 16101 Greenwood Avenue North. There is no charge for the event. Please RSVP at http://event.pingg.com/hungerbanquet.

The mission of the Center for Service-Learning is to support the development of meaningful service-learning opportunities that meet community-defined needs, enhance learning by integrating academic curriculum and service, and foster civic engagement, equity, and a sense of social purpose.

The Center for Service-Learning also supports the development of co-curricular educational opportunities that promote critical thinking, community engagement, and actions that engender greater social equity and justice.

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Tuesday, April 21, 2009

* Students, faculty protest budget cuts

Students and faculty joined to protest proposed budget cuts by the state Legislature.

The Tuesday, April 21, the event was part of a statewide effort by the American Federation of Teachers, the union that represents faculty members at Washington community and technical colleges.Faculty Senate President Amy Kinsel helped organize the event that included speakers, poetry readings and music performed by Funkngroove. (clilck here for photos)

Kinsel and others cited proposed tuition increases as potentially keeping students out while program reductions would mean fewer opportunities for those who do get in.

Faculty member Ernest Johnson, known on campus as “Dr. J,” told the crowd that it was a sad day for students, faculty and all colleges across the state as they face serious budget cuts. Johnson said that “most societies don’t turn to education for cuts in an economic downturn” as Washington lawmakers are doing.

The state House and Senate are in discussions, looking for a compromise budget as the session heads for its scheduled April 26 end. In December, Gov. Chris Gregoire proposed a budget that would cut about 6 percent from community and technical college budgets. In the past month, the Senate’s proposed budget pushed that number to about 10 percent while the House proposed budget adds another 3-4 percent cut on top of the Senate number. Some observers in Olympia are predicting the session will be forced into overtime with a special session needed to complete the budget.

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* SCC president, student testify before Congress

ShorelineCommunity College gave Congress a glimpse of the present and future of green jobs in America.

SCC President Lee Lambert and student Phil Lou presented testimony April 21 before the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions in a hearing is titled "Empowering Workers to Rebuild America's Economy and Longer-Term Competitiveness: Green Skills Training for Workers." The committee includes Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., who chaired the hearing.

“It’s new technology, but an old mission,” Lambert said of community and technical colleges providing workforce education and training. In his remarks, Lambert highlighted two SCC programs, Automotive Technology and Zero Energy Technology.

Lambert also touched on access issues facing the college and students. He described WashingtonState’s I-BEST program, which integrates language and basic skills instruction with subject-area instruction to help those students who need help in those areas.

Lambert told the senators that partnerships are an important part of SCC’s approach. As an example, he cited SCC’s automotive program that combines support from Toyota, a Department of Labor grant, area car dealers and the community to create a General Service Technician program. Graduates of GST can move into the workplace or continue in one of the manufacturer-supported programs for further training, he said.

Lou, 48, told the Senate panel that while many think of community colleges as a first step before moving on to a four-year degree, he’s an example of the opposite. “I received a degree from the University of Oregon, but came to ShorelineCommunity College for the Renewable Energy Program.”

Lou is a student in the Zero Energy Technology Program. The Vashon Island resident started with a class on designing solar electric systems for homes and businesses. The training prepared him to get a job with a Vashon electrical firm that was looking to start installing solar electric systems.

Also speaking were Dean Allen, Chief Executive Officer of McKinstry Co.; Mark H. Ayers, President, Building and Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO; and Joan Evans, Director, Wyoming Department of Workforce Services. The hearing began with comments by the U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis. Lambert and Lou also presented written testimony

Lambert and Lou ended up in Washington, D.C. after Sen. Murray’s office asked the State Board of Community and TechnicalColleges to find appropriate representatives for the subject of the hearing. SBCTC staff then called Lambert, who in turn asked for suggestions for a student speaker. Zero Energy Technology Program Director Mike Nelson said he immediately thought of Lou.

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Monday, April 20, 2009

* SCC Goes Green With Congressional Committee

A group of U.S. senators will get a lesson in green jobs Tuesday morning, courtesy of ShorelineCommunity College.

SCC President Lee Lambert and student Phil Lou are scheduled to testify April 21 before the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. The committee includes Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and is chaired by Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass. The hearing is titled "Empowering Workers to Rebuild America's Economy and Longer-Term Competitiveness: Green Skills Training for Workers."

“It’s a great opportunity to remind our lawmakers that community and technical colleges are the education and training delivery system of choice for the emerging green-jobs market,” Lambert said. “At Shoreline, we know first-hand just how intensely interested students are in green-related classes because they fill up just as fast as we can roll them out.”

Murray said Congress, along with President Barack Obama, sees jobs from green technologies as an economic growth area as well as an environmental issue.

“Expanding opportunities for green jobs is critical to get our economy moving again,” Sen. Murray said. “Delivering the needed education and training for these new technologies will be a key role, one that community and technical colleges are well-suited to filling.

“I’m very pleased to have testimony by a student and the president from the college where I once taught. I know that WashingtonState’s college system is working to expand green-job programs and I’m excited to hear about the efforts at ShorelineCommunity College.”

Lambert’s written testimony to the committee focuses on two renewable-energy programs, the Zero Energy Technology classes and the hybrid and alternative fuels training available through the school’s nationally acclaimed Automotive Technology program.

Lou, 48, is a student in the Zero Energy Technology Program. The Vashon Island resident started with a class on designing solar electric systems for homes and businesses. The training allowed Lou to get a job with a Vashon electrical firm that was looking to start installing solar electric systems.

Lou already has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Oregon. He had been working in various cabinetry jobs, but the onetime Peace Corps volunteer said he wanted to get into the renewable energy field and found the program at SCC. “I had started to think about the kind of world I was going to leave for my son,” Lou said.

The public is invited to enjoy a number of events, films and presentations such as “Solar Energy” by Mike Nelson, Director of the NorthwestSolarCenter at Earth Week 2009 at ShorelineCommunity College, April 20-24.Professor Chip Dodd will give the lecture, “The Geopolitics of a Thawing Arctic and Professor Emma Baer will present “Climate Change in Earth’s History-the Geologist’s Perspective.Professors Vanderven and Loper will lead a nature/bird watching walk. A number of other activities will also take place throughout the week.

Check out the various Earth Day events on the Campus Events calendar at the college web site at:http://www.shoreline.edu/ for more information.

Additionally, the Shoreline Community College Environmental Club, City of Shoreline and Caffe Appassionato are sponsoring a clean-up day to help restore the habitat at the Boeing Creek Watershed from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, April 25.Please RSVP or direct questions to Matt Loper, 206-546-4683 or mloper@shoreline.edu.

ShorelineCommunity College is located at 16101 Greenwood Avenue North, just west of Aurora Avenue or north of Seattle city limits.

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Wednesday, April 15, 2009

* Global Affairs Center to host foreign policy discussion series

The GlobalAffairsCenter at ShorelineCommunity College hosts a series of discussions on current foreign policy issues on six consecutive Thursday evenings, with the first discussion being held April 30.Larry Fuell, Director of the GlobalAffairsCenter will facilitate.The discussions will begin at 6:30 p.m. and run until 8 p.m. in the StudentUnionBuilding, the PUB, Room 9201.The cost for all sessions is $25.

The format is built around Great Decision, a publication prepared annually by the Foreign Policy Association (FPA) of New York; and containing several pages of thoughtful briefing material on each issue.Participants will receive a copy of the publication when they register.(See below for registration instructions).At the end of each session participants will be invited to complete opinion ballots, which are forwarded to the FPA in New York for tabulation and presentation to national foreign policy leaders.

The themes to be discussed include (Updated schedule):

April 30Rising Global Powers.Since the end of the cold war, the U.S. has emerged as the world's predominant power. However, in the 21st century some rapidly developing countries have become increasingly influential. Who are these rising powers? Will their emergence change the global balance of power? How will the U.S. react?

May 7 Energy and Global Economy.Rising energy prices, driven by instability in key producing regions such as the Middle East and increasing demand from developing countries, are affecting the global economy. What are the potential consequences of huge wealth transfers to oil-exporting states? Are there any realistic alternative energy scenarios on the horizon?

May 14 Afghanistan and Pakistan.Newfound hopes for stability in Iraq have shifted the U.S. military focus back to Afghanistan and Pakistan, one of the most volatile border regions in the world. What impact will this renewed interest have on the two states as well as on U.S. defense strategy?

May 21 Cuba on the Verge.Since Fidel Castro handed over the presidency of Cuba to his brother, Raul in early 2008, signs of greater economic openness have led to much speculation. Will Raul seek to reopen ties with the U.S.?What role will Cuba's American exiles play in shaping a post-Castro Cuba?

May 28The Global Food Supply.Global prices for food staples have risen dramatically, resulting in protests and unrest around the world. What factors are driving prices up, and can they be tamed? What will the political fallout be for governments that fail to act, and what role can global institutions play?

June 4 Universal Human Rights.As the Universal Declaration of Human Rights celebrates its 60th anniversary, events in the Balkans, Sudan and Myanmar continue to challenge its idealism, while raising new questions about the prospects for humanitarian interventions. Do human rights transcend national borders and customs? Is the definition of human rights changing?

Pre-registration is required.Enrollment will be limited to 25 individuals in order to encourage participation in the discussions.

* * * * * * * * * *

Registration - $25

(Includes all briefing material, entrance to six sessions and coffee/tea.*)

Register at the SCC Bookstore on the main campus (PUB, lower level), where you can pay by cash, check or credit card, or

Call or send an email to Larry Fuell with your contact information to 206-533-6750, orgac@shoreline.edu.

*Participants are free to bring own beverage in a closed container.Sorry, no food allowed in the conference room.

Donna Myers/SCC

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Tuesday, April 14, 2009

* U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee at Shoreline CC for First Congressional District Art Celebration

The public is invited to join U.S. Congressman Jay Inslee at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, April 18 in the sanctuary of the Ray W. Howard Library at Shoreline Community College for an awards ceremony for "An Artistic Discovery," the 2009 First Congressional District Art Competition for High School Students. Rep. Inslee’s office sponsored the event, part of a national contest, for students in grades 9-12 who reside in or go to school in a school located in the 1st Congressional District to encourage them to pursue their creative talents.

The submissions will be on display on the wall across from the computer lab on the bottom level of the Library from Tuesday, April 14 through Saturday, the 18. Prominent individuals in the arts community will judge the local competition and the winner of the contest will receive a $1,500 renewable scholarship from an arts college in Georgia. The winner will also receive three roundtrip plane tickets to attend the opening ceremony in Washington, D.C. on June 24. The winning piece will hang in the Cannon tunnel of the U.S. Capital for one year along with the other winning pieces from across the country.

The contest is part of a nationwide competition that was launched in 1982. Since then, over 650,000 high school students have entered the competition. All entries must be an original in concept, design and execution.

Donna Myers/SCC

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Monday, April 13, 2009

* Energy in the Built Environment off to a good start

More than 100 people met in the Student Union Building at Shoreline Community College on Thursday, April 9 to listen to solar energy experts share their knowledge and expertise at the first of four lectures in the series, “Energy in the Built Environment.” Goran Bye, former CEO, REC Silicon, who has overseen silicon production around the world and Stan Price, Putnam Price Group, who has more than 20 years experience in design and management of resource efficiency program presented “Two Views:50,000 Feet and Ground-Level.”The audience represented both industry and community.

The series runs on Thursday evenings throughout the month with lectures beginning at 7 p.m. in the PUB, the student union building at the college.

The series continues April 16 with the lecture, “Three-Legged Stool: Public Policy/Public Spaces/Planning,” presented by Bert Gregory, president and CEO of Mithun, a leader in resource sensitive and sustainable design, and Policy Director for Climate Solutions, K.C. Golden, who helped shape policies for Seattle and the state of Washington.

Tom Eckman, manager of Conservation Resources for the Northwest Power and Conservation Council, Terry Oliver, chief technology/innovation officer for the Bonneville Power Administration, and Tom Starrs, CEO of Solar Energy Ventures, LLC, take on energy conservation and solar energy business development at “The Road Ahead: Energy Strategies and the Built Environment” at the April 23 lecture.

The final lecture, “David and Goliath: Residential Solar and Regional Power Production,” on April 30 brings the “Father of Earth Day,” and President and CEO of the Bullitt Foundation, Denis Hayes to the college.Hayes was instrumental in the shaping of the environmental movement.Director of Operations at Silicon Energy, LLC, Gary Shaver, who is leading the way in design and production of solar modules, is also on the agenda that evening.

The lecture series is the brainchild of Mike Nelson, executive director of the NW Solar Center at ShorelineCommunity College.

“The idea is to get two key players in various aspects of the current energy debate and hear what they have to say about the issues of the day,” Nelson said. “Then, we’ll have time to discuss and answer questions.”

Nelson said the series will be a unique opportunity for the audience as well as the presenters to have these discussions. “These are people who don’t often get a chance to speak with each other, to see the other’s perspective,” Nelson said. “These lectures will add to the knowledge base, not just spread it.”

The series is the centerpiece of a four-credit class in SCC’s Zero Energy Technology Program. “We’re expanding the program and this series is a new piece,” he said.

* Guitar Hero competition at Shoreline CC brings young and not-so-young together

Rock star wannabes attended the first Annual Guitar Hero competition at Shoreline Community College on Saturday, April 11. Competitors ranged in age from 11 to 50 and came from the college, Shorewood, Shorecrest and Kings high schools and Einstein, St. Luke and Kellogg middle schools. And they all tried their best to win the “rock star” title.

Event Coordinator Amy Stapleton said that even though the majority of contestants entered the expert level, there were plenty of people who “played their socks off” for the easy, medium and hard levels. Stapleton said that all the participants had equal passion for winning their level of competency and that was clear. The theater and classrooms were bursting with music, laughter and energy.

The individual level contests were held in classrooms near the Campus Theater, where the semi-finals and finals took place. Each room had large projection screens so the contestants could really get into the “rocker” mood. The theater offered a gigantic screen with cool lighting that resembled a gigantic music studio.

The Shoreline Community College Foundation and KEXP Radio co-sponsored the event. Ritva Manchester, SCC Foundation Acting Director said, "This was a new venue for us, it was a fun departure from the usual events, we are always looking for innovative ways to attract potential students to our campus."

“We look forward to bringing this competition to the community annually,” said Stapleton.

Donna Myers/SCC

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Thursday, April 09, 2009

* SCC Automotive progam named one of Top Four in country

Is there such as thing as too many awards?Too many accolades?Not according to the faculty and administrators of the Automotive Factory-Sponsored Training Program at ShorelineCommunity College.

The SCC Automotive Program is one of four programs across the country to be selected as a finalist for the “School of the Year Award” from Chicago Pneumatic, a global leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of high-performance tools, hydraulic attachments, industrial and portable compressors and associated accessories and workshop equipment.

Shoreline, Ohio Technical, Piedmont Technical (in Greenwood, South Carolina), and SmokyHillHigh School (in Aurora, Colorado) were chosen from more than 170 applicants nominating more than 80 colleges and high schools.

“We are honored to be selected as a regional finalist for this award,” said Don Schultz, Interim Director of the ProfessionalAutomotiveTrainingCenter at the college.

The four finalists will receive a share of a total prize package of Chicago Pneumatic tools worth $25,000.The winning school will receive an additional $10,000 of tools; the three finalists will receive tools worth $5,000.

Shoreline’s automotive program has earned national recognition many times over the years — the General Service Technician program received a Governor’s Award for Best Practices in Workforce Development last year and the Toyota T-TEN program has beennamed one of the top programs in the country a number of times.The program has also been highlighted by “The Seattle Times” as one of the top community college programs in the state.

SCC/Donna Myers

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Wednesday, April 08, 2009

* State Board sends House budget update

State Board of Community and Technical Colleges staff members are continuing to keep colleges informed as budget proposals work their way through both the state House and Senate. The following memo was sent by Chris Reykdal, Deputy Executive Director – Finance for SBCTC.

The following message is being sent broadly to the community and technical college system.

The House Ways and Means Committee passed SHB-1244 today (the House version of the 2009-11 Operating Budget). The bill has been passed to the Rules Committee for possible floor consideration. We are not certain of the timing of floor action, or even if this budget will go to the floor. We believe House and Senate budget negotiations may take place with an agreed upon budget being developed before either chamber takes a floor vote.

The following amendments of importance to the CTC system were adopted by the House Ways and Means Committee (amendment sponsors are in parentheses):

3) Wait lists must be adopted in nursing programs and each year 50% of new program admits must come from the wait list (Cody);

4) SBCTC must award a new applied baccalaureate degree in Interior Design to a community or technical college by July 1, 2009, subject to HECB program approval (Haigh);

5) A requirement that SBCTC facilitate the development of University Centers in the Kitsap Region by allocating 30 FTES (existing) to Olympic College. Olympic College must coordinate with PeninsulaCollege for future baccalaureate programs in the region. This is the same language found in the Senate budget proposal (Haigh);

7) A fine-tuning of the Washington State Quality Award statute that amends the existing law to narrowly define what a “similar organization” means: they are organizations composed of examiners qualified to perform full Baldridge Assessments. In other words, the Washington State Quality Award application exemption that was provided by OFM to institutions of higher education relied on current statutory language that allowed OFM to decide alternative assessments based on “similar organizations”. OFM had determined that regional accrediting bodies were “similar organizations”, thus the exemption for higher education institutions. This budget proviso now makes it clear that only organizations that perform full Baldridge assessments can be construed as “similar organizations”. Put simply, if this passes in final form, and the Governor signs the budget with this proviso included, the colleges would once again be required to carry out the Washington State Quality Award requirement (Linville);

8) A technical amendment to restore $1.1 million in system wide cuts next biennium (Linville).

There are many more twists and turns to the budget development process and we will keep you informed at every step. We won’t update the side-by-side comparison sent out last week until we see substantial changes in the proposal of one or more chamber.

SCC/Jim Hills

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4:05 PM
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Thursday, April 02, 2009

* SCC Global Affairs Center to host Discussion on Iran

The Global Affairs Center at Shoreline Community College is sponsoring “Encounters with Iran,” a discussion with Abdi Sami, Associate Producer of the documentary, “Iran Today" at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 14 in the Student Union Building, PUB, room 9208 on the main campus.The event is free.

The documentary, produced by Rick Steves and aired on public television (KCTS, channel 9) in early March, documents the social realities of life in Iran today.Mr. Sami, who traveled with Rick Steves in Iran last year, will discuss those realities as well as the political circumstances surrounding production of the film. The documentary, which runs 50 minutes, will be viewed at the start of the program, followed by Mr. Sami’s presentation.

Public parking is available on campus.Enter through the main gate (west) on Innis Arden Way; public and event parking is across from the bus stop.The campus is located at 16101 Greenwood Avenue North, just west of Aurora Avenue and north of Seattle city limits.

The mission of the GlobalAffairsCenter is to encourage awareness, critical thinking, and engagement on global issues.The goal is to present programs that are timely and relevant to our community partners both on and off campus.